Noah’s Salvation and Ours

Text: Genesis 6:11-22

Introduction:
 I. We all know the story of how God saved Noah from the
    flood.
    A. Man had become so wicked, God decided to destroy
       man by a flood.
    B. Tell the story of the flood and the fact that God
       spared Noah and his family.
II. There are several parallels between Noah’s salvation
    from the flood and our salvation today.

Body:
  I. Grace
     A. Noah
        1. Genesis 6:8
        2. Grace (chen) “favor, grace” Nelson’s
     B. Us today
        1. Ephesians 2:8
        2. Definition: caris - “2. goodwill, lovingkindness,
           favor…caris is used of the kindness of a master 
           towards his inferiors or servants, and so esp. 
           of God towards men…Moreover, the caris contains 
           the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what 
           he has not deserved.” Thayer
        3. Luke 17:7-10
        4. It is available to all individuals.
           a. contrast with “Limited Atonement”
           b. Titus 2:11
           c. 1 John 2:2
     C. It was not by grace alone.

 II. Faith
     A. Noah – Hebrews 11:7
     B. Us:
        1. Hebrews 11:6
        2. Romans 5:1
     C. Not by faith only.

III. Obedience.
     A. Noah
        1. Scriptures:
           a. Hebrews 11:7 “prepared an ark”
           b. Genesis 6:22; 7:5
        2. If not the way that God had said…
     B. Us
        1. Matthew 7:21-23
        2. Hebrews 5:9
        3. James 2:24, 26

 IV. Water
     A. Noah
        1. 1 Peter 3:20
           a. Water was employed in their preservation in
              an important way and they, in a definite 
              sense owed their safety to that element.  
              Though water spelled the damnation of the 
              rebellious, it meant salvation of the 
              obedient.
           b. The stress is not the mode but the element.
        2. Illustration:
            Old world         W    New World
            Sin, filth        A    righteousness
            Wickedness        T    clean, pure
                              E
                              R

     B. Us
        1. Scriptures:
           a. 1 Peter 3:21 - “We understand that God was
              responsible for their [Noah’s] salvation, and 
              it was through His mercy and love that He 
              provided a means whereby they could escape 
              the doom of the world.  But the means He 
              choose was water.  Had Noah refused to accept                 
              the means God had provided, we could only 
              call him rebellious, and he would have been 
              lost.  Today, God has also, provided a means 
              whereby we may avail ourselves of His 
              salvation, and where we may meet the blood of 
              Christ.  He has provided it in His mercy, 
              kindness and love, but we must accept what He 
              has provided.  The Holy Spirit says baptism 
              ‘doth now save you’.  God saves us through 
              the blood of Christ, But the Means He Has 
              Chosen Is Water!”  Bruce Oberst, Letters From 
              Peter, p. 93
           b. Ephesians 5:26
           c. Galatians 3:26-27
        2. use the above illustration.

  V. The number
     A. Noah – 1 Peter 3:20 “8 souls” few.
     B. Us – Matthew 7:13-14

Conclusion: The few that were saved from the flood were saved by the mercy and 
grace of God; by their working, obedient faith; and by water.  We today are 
saved from sin in the same way today.  Have you availed yourself to the mercy and 
grace of God by having enough faith to render obedience to the commands of God?